27/10 - Christchurch juries to trial Portacoms

Jury trials will return to Christchurch next year and will be held in transportable buildings specially set out for the job.

27 October 2011 - Courtesy of NZ Newswire

The existing court houses are still not safe following the February 22 earthquake and the Ministry of Justice has not been able to find any other suitable buildings to hold trials in, Minister for Courts Georgina te Heuheu says.

Six hundred square metres of Portacoms will be placed near the Christchurch central police station on Cambridge Terrace.

They will "ensure that access to justice continues to be provided for the Christchurch community", Ms te Heuheu said on Friday.

The Portacoms will be interlocked, creating a perimeter structure with a central area, which will then be enclosed to create space for two jury-capable courtrooms.

Court services are currently being held at 12 sites around Christchurch and jury trials have been relocated to courts including Timaru and Greymouth.